By Oldrin Masowa

Where words fail to deliver the message, music becomes the answer. The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Music hosted its annual Bursary Winners’ concert to recognise and honour its students for their achievements on 25 October.

Bursaries were awarded to both undergraduate and postgraduate full-time music students, as well as conservatory students who are enrolled for extra-curricular music lessons.

During the event, 20 undergraduate bursaries of R 6 750 each were awarded to deserving students with an average of 75%. The funds were made available through the National Arts Council’s block grant. The Bertha Spies Community Engagement bursary of R5 000 (private donor) was also awarded.

Music Performance bursaries were also awarded to 14 students. They include the Vice-Chancellor’s Music bursary (R15 000), Annette L Combrink Music Bursary (R10 000), MC Roode / NWU Arts Music bursary (R10 000), University Music Bursary (R8 000), Financial Support Services: Organ / Piano bursary (R6 000), Executive Dean’s bursary: BA Music and Society (R5 000), Executive Dean’s bursary: Diploma in Music (R5 000), Financial Support Services undergraduate bursary (R3 500), Conservatory Music Student bursary (R3 500), Johan Raubenheimer Memorial bursary (R3 500), School of Music Staff bursary (R3 000), D’Assonville Music bursary (R2 500), Eugenie Premyslav Music bursary (R2 500), Johannes van der Merwe Music bursary (R2 500), Millie van der Merwe Music bursaries - undergraduate (R2 500) and postgraduate (R2 000), and the Financial Support Services undergraduate bursary (R2 000).

“The School of Music is extremely grateful for the continuous support of its donors. Our students are our pride and joy, and it is important to give recognition to them on a public platform,” says Yvonne-Marié Brand, director of the School of Music.

“Our school is flourishing and both staff and students are enjoying national and international recognition across the spectrum. Over the past few years, the school has become one of the country's most dynamic university music departments, and it is also one of the largest in terms of student numbers,” she adds.

“Our offering has been diversified during the past six years to also include community music, choral conducting, contemporary commercial music, and orchestral percussion. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, and we, as a school, most definitely go the extra mile to provide the best opportunities for our students to succeed. This is also echoed in the communities we serve. Through our exceptional community engagement programmes, our students also get to apply their academic knowledge and gain work experience, thereby enhancing their level of employability,” says Yvonne-Marié.

She adds that their international exchange programmes also went from strength to strength with four students attending a semester-long academic exchange programme at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. “We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Malawi's Department of Music and Dance,” says Yvonne-Marié.

The School of Music will conclude the NWU Concert Series on a high note with Bach: The Flute Sonatas concert featuring two of their staff members, Prof Tinus Botha (piano) and André Oosthuizen (flute) on Sunday 30 October 2022.

The Spring Ensemble Picnic Concert will be held on 1 November 2022 at 18:00 under the trees in the parking area behind the conservatory. The audience can look forward to ensembles such as the Big Band, the Brass Ensemble, the Contemporary Commercial Music Voice Ensemble, and the Wind Ensemble. The picnic concert is free of charge, but guests are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item to contribute to the School of Music’s food bank. Guests are welcome to bring a chair or picnic blanket and a picnic basket.

“The NWU Concert Series would not have been possible without the generous support of the Rupert Music Foundation,” adds Yvonne- Marié.